Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: that he paid Al-Muqanna a visit during his illness and said, “I will not leave till he gets cupped, for I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “There is healing in CUPPING.” (Book #71,Hadith #600)

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: (The Prophet said), “Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire (cauterizing).” But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding with fire.” (Book #71, Hadith #584)

The Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever wants to perform cupping then let him search for 17th, 19th and 21st and let none of you allow his blood to rage (boil) such that it kills him.” (Saheeh Ibn Majah).

Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever is going to be cupped then (let it be) on a Thursday in the name of Allah. Keep away from being cupped on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Be cupped on a Monday or Tuesday. Do not be cupped on a Wednesday because this is the day that Ayoob was befallen with a trial. You will not find leprosy except (by being cupped) on Wednesday or Wednesday night.“ (Ibn Majah).

Cupping theraphy

Action Plan

Cupping is a method of treatment in which a jar is attached to the skin surface to cause local congestion through the negative pressure created. An incision lightly made to allow the congested blood to ooze out. This type of treatment has been practised by the chinese and the Arabs for thousand of years.Cupping is a therapeutic process of removing this unclean blood from the body . It is a form of medical treatment which has been recommended by Shari’ah. Consult your doctor before you decide to undergo cupping.

In Malay this practice is known as ‘BEKAM’ and in Arabic it is called ‘AL-HIJAMAH’ while in China ‘gua-sha’. In Arabic this method of therapy was popularised by our Prophet Muhammad(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) as stated in many Hadith. Indication and Diseases that respond to Cupping: The cupping method has the function of warming and promoting the flow of energy in the blood thus dispelling cold, dampness, toxins and winds. It also diminishes swellings and pains.

Cupping Techniques:

There are various types of cups – rubber, bamboo, glass and plastic, animal horns, etc and also the techinique of cupping varies from place to place or form country to country.

Among the Kelantanese Malays, they used buffalo horns, drinking glasses and bamboo as cups.

It is said that the ancient Chinese and Arabs had used animal horns for cupping.

Cupping Techniques Today:

Today, there are various types of cups to choose for cupping such as rubber cups, bamboos, cupping glasses or plastic cups. There are two types of cupping more prevalent today:

Traditional Cupping and Vacuum Cupping

Traditional Cupping are the one that need some kind of fire to create a vacuum,

while the vacuum cups ( a newer type) have a pump so that no fire is needed.

Types of Cupping

dry cupping – This is the process of using a vacuum on the painful areas of the body in order to gather the blood in that area without incisions (small, light scratches made by a razor).

Dry massage cupping – This is similar to dry cupping but olive oil is applied to the skin (before applying the cups) in order to allow easy movement of the cups. Dry and massage cupping may be administered any time of the day, any day of the week or month. There are no restrictions. These two types of cupping are not from the Sunnah.

wet cupping – This is the process of using a vacuum at different points on the body but with incisions in order to remove ‘harmful’ blood which lies just beneath the surface of the skin. It is recommended that this type of cuppingis administered by a cupping therapist

Hijama as a Form of Therapy

The Messenger (dallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used or recommended hijama for:

Headaches:

Magic: Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions that the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) was afflicted with magic and was cupped on the head to treat it. He also mentions that hijama is from the best of cures for magic if performed correctly (Zaad al Ma’aad).

Poison: Abdullah ibn Abbas t reported that a Jewish woman gave poisoned meat to the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) so he r sent her a message saying, “What caused you to do that?” She replied, “If you really are a prophet then Allah will inform you of it and if you are not then I would save the people from you!” When the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) felt pain from it, he r performed cupping(Ahmad).

The following problems respond very well to Cupping :- Disease caused by dampness, such as low back pain, lumbago, sciatica, pain in the arms and shoulders, pain in the legs and muscular parts of the body, stomachache, vomiting, headache, migraine, sprains, insomnia, etc.

The Best Time to Practise Cupping

The best days of the week, we deduce that the best days for cupping are the 17th, 19th and 21st of the lunar month which coincide with Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.

Areas of Hijama

The Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) was cupped on the following parts of his body:

The two veins at the side of the neck and the base of the neck (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah);

on his head (Bukhari);

on his hip for a pain in that area (Abu Dawud);

on the top of his foot, for a pain in that area (Abu Dawud);

The Benefits of Hijama

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system;

Enhances blood circulation;

Stimulates tissues and internal organs;

Improves physical and mental health conditions;

Enhances general health of body;

Reduces stress and depression by releasing chemicals in the brain;

Allows tissues to release toxins by eliminating them through the surface of the skin;

Is the best deep tissue massage;

Brings blood and warmth to an affected organ and therefore promotes healing;

Reduces unwanted side effects of drugs, removes their residue and reduces the risk of drug toxicity;

Massage cupping over the digestive system stimulates the inside of the organs, their peristaltic movement and secretion of digestive fluids;strengthens the power of digestion and absorption of nourishment and the power of secretion;

dry cupping is 10 times more effective than acupuncture

; cupping works in a radius of 10cm and depth of 10-12cm;

Massage cupping on the liver aids it to detoxify the body;

Massage cupping over the back, revitalises the organs,improves blood circulation and is the equivalent of walking 2km.